People in western countries call Spring Festival “Chinese New Year”,because people in China 1. the end of an old lunar(农历)year,and the start of a new lunar year.

At Spring Festival,people want to keep away from 2. ,so that the new year will 3. with good luck.There are a lot of 4. for Spring Festival.People 5. their houses(before New Year’s Day),cut their hair,and buy lots of new 6. to wear.They decorate their houses with couplets,paper cuts and lanterns.The decorations are all 7. ,because red is a “lucky colour”.

Older people give young people red packets 8. money in them.People eat jiaozi for New Year and yuanxiao at Lantern Festival.

Then there are dragon dances and fireworks.These are 9. to bring good luck for New Year.

People all over the world celebrate the new year. However, not all countries celebrate in the same way, and in some countries, the new year doesn’t begin on the 1 day every year. In many countries, the New Year begins on 1st January, but people start celebrating on 31st December, New Year’s Eve. In New York many people go to celebrate in Times Square. 2 they’re waiting for the New Year, they listen to music, sing traditional songs and have fun. Just before 12 o’clock, everyone 3 down from 10: 10, 9, 8… As soon as it’s 12 o’clock, everyone shouts very 4 , “Happy New Year!”

New Year’s Day is often a family day. Some families get together for a special meal. When the weather is fine, many families go out for a 5 .

On New Year’s Day, many people make resolutions for the new year. They 6 a list of things, such as “I will help out more with housework. I will work 7 at school than others. ” or “I won’t spend so much time playing video games. ” When they have made 8 list, they read it to their family or friends and promise to 9 their resolutions.

So it doesn’t matter how they celebrate, 10 people in countries all over the world, it’s a time to say goodbye to the old year, and to welcome the new.

The Spring Festival(春节) is the Chinese New Year's Day.It usually comes __1_ February.Everyone in China __2_ the Spring Festival very much.When the Spring Festival __3__，Li Hong usually __4__ his parents clean their house and does some shopping and other housework.On that day，everyone in China eats dumplings，New Year's cakes，and other good _5__．Li Hong likes New Year's cakes.But Wang Hai says dumplings are _6__ than New Year's cakes.The Chinese people eat the New Year's cakes and dumplings in their houses.How __7_ they are!

In the USA，children start school when they are five years old．In some states they must stay in school 1 they are sixteen．But most students are seventeen or eighteen years old when they 2 ，secondary schools．There are two kinds of schools in the USA：public schools and private schools． 3 children go to public schools．Their parents do not have to 4 their education because the schools 5 money from the government．If a child goes to a private school，his parents have to get enough money for his schooling．Some parents still 6 private schools

though they are much more expensive．

Today about half of the high school students 7 in universities after they finish secondary schools．A student at a state university does not have to pay very much if his parents 8 in that state．

Many students 9 while they are studying at universities．In this way they get into 10 working habits and live by their own hands．

More than 3,000 languages are spoken in the world. Of all these languages, English is the most widely used. When English is used, it has also 1 many new words from other languages. For example, Americans borrowed “cookbook” from German (德语). They 2 borrowed “tofu” and “kowtow” from Chinese.

As we all know, there are 3 between western culture and Chinese culture. We can learn about those words by comparing how certain words are used. 4 , “you are a lucky dog” means you are a lucky person. To describe a person who is 5 , they say, “sick as a dog”. On the other hand, Chinese people love cats very much. But in western culture, “cat” is sometimes used to describe a woman that is 6 . The rose is considered as a symbol of love in both China and some western countries. People think the rose stands for love and 7 .

China, a country with the largest population in the world, has 8 more people to learn English. By the 1990s, English learning has been very 9 with Chinese people. Many of them have done quite well in English.

Now students are required to learn English and people think the study of English is a very important industry in China 10 in the rest of the world. The English language has played an important part in our lives.

In Australia, different people have different ways to enjoy themselves. They also have their own ideas about 1 to pass time.

2 children, about 80%, work hard in school because they have to take lots of exams. 3 school, they don’t want to stay at home reading books any more. Instead, they put aside their school bags and go out to play.

Some old people 4 early in the morning. Then they go to park to 5 . It helps them know what is happening around the world. In the evening, they would prefer to stay at home 6 rather than do anything else.

Young people enjoy having 7 trips on weekends. They go to mountains to have a picnic or 8 to the forest to camp. They usually start on Friday and spend one or two days outside. Then on 9 evening, they start their way back home. Nobody seems to be in a hurry, although a busy week is waiting for 10 again.

Did you know that tea the most popular drink in the world (after water), was invented by accident? Although 1. ____ wasn't brought to the western world until 1610, this beverage was discovered over three thousand years before that. According to an ancient Chinese legend, the emperor Shennong discovered tea when he 2. ______ drinking water over an open fire, some leaves from a nearby bush 3. ____ the waster and remained there for some time. The emperor noticed that the leaves in the water produced a 4. ____ smell. Later he decided to 5. ____ the hot mixture . It was quite delicious. And in this way, one of the world's favorite drinks was invented.

In China, you’re not 1 to start eating first if there are older people at the table. Very often people who travel to the United States 2 to tip (付小费) because there is no such habit in some countries. Waiters expect to get a 15% tip on the cost of your meal.In England, 3 to stand in line even if there are only two of you. It's important to respect lines there, It's a good idea to talk about the weather. It's a favorite subject of 4 with the British. In Spain, it's a good idea to have a light meal in the afternoon if someone 5 you for dinner. People have dinner very late, and restaurants do not 6 open until after 9 pm. In Arab countries, men kiss one another on the cheek (脸颊). Your host may welcome you with a kiss on both cheeks. It is 7 of you to do the same. In Japan, people usually give personal or business cards to each other when they meet for the first time. When a person gives you a card, don't put it into your pocket 8 . The person expects you to read it.

Don't forget to be careful of your body language to 9 something in conversation. A kind of body language that is acceptable in one culture may be 10 in another.

There are 12 star signs in total. Your star sign depends on your 1 . In western culture, some people believe that people 2 the same star sign share similar characteristics. There are lots of stories about star signs. 3 a story about Scorpio.

Once upon a time, in Greece, there was a hunter 4 Orion who was the son of a sea god. He was handsome, brave and strong. One day he said he 5 kill all the dangerous animals. The mother of the land was quite 6 at what he said. She ordered a scorpion 7 him. The scorpion hid in the 8 and gave the hunter a sudden attack 9 the shoulder. The hunter tried his best to fight back. The fighting 10 for ten days and ten nights. In the end, they 11 died. From then on, 12 scorpions appeared, hunters would hide. They 13 met again.

14 your birthday is between Oct. 23rd and Nov. 21st, your star sign is Scorpion. You are a powerful person 15 energy. You can always keep secrets. However, sometimes you do not forgive others.

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项中，选出一个最佳答案。“Beijing, Toronto and Paris are the most 1cities bidding (申办) for the Olympic Games of 2008,” said Richard W. Pound, the IOC’s first vice president.“The host (主办)city of the Olympic Games of 2008 will be 2 at the IOC’s meeting in Moscow in 2001. Beijing is ready on its way because it 3 became the host of the Olympic Games of 2000, and Toronto and Paris also have 4 power,” said Pound at an IOC meeting.About ten cities are 5 in bidding for the Olympic Games of 2008, of which, there are three most important cities. They are Beijing, Toronto, Paris. Some of 6 cities are Osaka, Havana, Istanbul and Cairoete.For the first time, the host city will be decided 7 IOC members visiting the places. The bidding scandals (丑闻)of the Salt Lake City have made the IOC find new 8 of bidding. That is 9 the IOC members will not be allowed to 10 the bidding cities.

__1__ New Year’s Day, many people eat special food for good luck. In Spain and some Latin—American counties , people _2__ twelve grapes（葡萄）at midnight on New Year’s Eve—one grape _3__ good luck in __4__ month of the new year. Chinese people eat __5__ .Some have coins（硬币）inside. Everyone __6__ to find the coin for luck and money in the new year. Of course they don’t eat the __7__ . Japanese __8__ eat noodles on New Year’s Eve and their birthdays . _9__ may bring them good luck and __10__ life.

_1 the population of China? There are more than 1.3 billion people in China. It is almost one fifth of the world’s population. How to control(控制)the population growth is a big problem. Some people think 2 to control the population growth, But I don’t quite agree 3 them, because 4 ,there is a way .

The question is that we should make it 5 how serious the population problem is. Our farmland is becoming less and less to every one . We have already got too many mouths to feel. 6 we control the population growth, many people will die 7 hunger. Too fast population growth has been and will be bad for our nation. Though laws(法律)have been 8_ to control the population growth, in some places，9 is done to carry out (贯彻)the law. We should make people 10 that it is foolish 11 them to bring too many children into the world. They shall 12 do 13 they have been doing for many years.

We are fighting 14 too fast population growth. Yet, the fighting won’t end 15 everyone knows its meaning and does something for it.

Christmas was coming .A lot of _1__were going to town . They hoped to __2__ some vegetables , fruit and meat in the market .And then they were going to buy some __3_ for their families . A bus came . They tried to _4_ .Robert ,a strong young man ,rushed in first. He occupied(占) two __5_: one for his girlfriend Mabel and the other for himself.

The bus started. Robert had a look __6_ the bus . He saw a lot of people _7_ there . There were some old men among them. He hurried to __8__his eyes . Mabel found it and thought he felt _9__and asked , “What’s wrong with you ,dear ?”

“ 10__ ,”answered the kind—hearted young man . “I can’t bear(忍受) to see the poor old men !”

Early in the morning，at noon，or in the evening in big cities and in the countryside，all across the United States，you can see Americans running.Men and women，__1__ and old are running.People run __2__—along the beaches of California，__3__ Central Park in New York，down quiet streets in small towns or at the gym.Some people even run in __4__ living rooms.

Running didn't use to be so popular.In the 1960s，runners were __5__ athletes and healthy strong people.In those days，when people saw a runner，they used _6__，“Hey，what's the hurry for？”Or they might say to __7__，“Is he crazy？”Women almost never __8__．If they did，they might hear a man shout，“If I __9__ you，can I keep you？” But today all these have __10__．Men and women of all __11__ enjoy running.

Doctors say many of the health problems in the United States __12__ these bad habits：eating too much，smoking cigarettes，and __13__ exercising enough.Doctors tell us，“Eat less，don't smoke，and exercise more.” Running is a good exercise __14__ it helps build strong hearts and lungs.It also helps most people __15__ weight.

When it comes to November 11, the young generations will consider it as the Singles’ Day as well as the online shopping carnival (狂欢节) .

Online shopping has been much more _1__ especially after Jack Ma, the CEO of Tmall and Taobao, had the idea of “Double Eleven”. The__2__ of online shopping include cheaper pieces, fast searching, comparing between products, and saving time. Before the shoppers make their decisions, they can check _3__ and recommendations about the products form other buyers. It is truly global so people can buy the best products from all over the world. Distance is no longer a ___4____ because most sellers provide an express service(快递服务) and goods will be sent straight to the door __5___. You don’t even need to ___6____ out of your house or go to the shops. You can stay at home with a nice cup of tea and just click your mouse to choose the article you like.

Online shopping is very __7____, but there’s always a trap. Shoppers who buy products online are ___8____ that the products may be different from what they have expected. Online shopping has proved to be __9____ enough. Online shoppers have to fill in their personal information and credit card information, which can be stolen and used by skillful hackers. It will increase the risk of losing money.

So we should be ___10___ enough to avoid these problems when we enjoy on line shopping.

Mother's Day is a holiday for mothers. It is celebrated（庆祝）in the United States, England, India and （1） countries. In a short time, it becomes widely celebrated. Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday in May. On that day, many people （2） gifts（礼物）of love to their mothers.

The（3） of a day for mothers was suddenly given by Miss Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia（费城）．As a result of her（4） , the celebration of the first（5） Mother's Day was（6）in Philadelphia on May 10,1908. Soon the（7） became popular all over the U. S．A. and around the world.

In China, people do the same on the day for mothers. And, in some cities, people sometimes ask （8） to be broadcasted（广播）on the radio for his or her mother only.（9） might cost a little money, but as it is said,“（10） is invaluable（无价的）．”

The world is divided （划分）into two parts. One half of the world is rich and the other is poor. In the poor part,a lot of people have never got enough to eat. When they are ill, 1 the hospitals can receive them because they have 2 . In the rich part, a lot of people eat too much. For example, a dog 3 a cat in North America eats 4 than a child in the poorer countries.

The poor countries have some difficult problems. Sometimes the land is very poor. People can’t grow 5 . People there have 6 rich land 7 enough water. The land can be made better, but a lot of things must be done. The people must be taught and water must be found.

But rich countries have problems, too. There are not always good places to 8 . Sometimes the air is not clean and the rivers are 9 dirty to swim in or to drink. The roads and streets are full of people and buses. Cars and buses have to move 10 . Noise is too much. Some people don’t have houses. Something must be done about these problems. The air and the river must be cleaned and be 11 clean. More houses have to be built. 12 these can’t be done easily.

Venice(威尼斯) is the “Queen” of the Adriatic Sea.Every year ________(1) from all over the world ________(2) Italy to visit the city.Do you know ________(3) they like to go there for a visit?

Venice is a very beautiful city.It is quite different ________(4) other cities in the world.There ________(5) roads or streets in the city.So there aren't any cars or buses.There are________(6)canals(运河) in the city.There is one big canal and 177 small canals.People move________(7) and down the canals ________(8) to go to work，________(9) or visit their friends.But Venice is sinking(下沉)．It is going down and the water is going up.In 2040 Venice will be ________(10) water.The Adriatic Sea will cover the city.

In the USA，children start school when they are five years old．In some states they must stay in school 1 they are sixteen．But most students are seventeen or eighteen years old when they 2 ，secondary schools．There are two kinds of schools in the USA：public schools and private schools． 3 children go to public schools．Their parents do not have to 4 their education because the schools 5 money from the government．If a child goes to a private school，his parents have to get enough money for his schooling．Some parents still 6 private schools

though they are much more expensive．

Today about half of the high school students 7 in universities after they finish secondary schools．A student at a state university does not have to pay very much if his parents 8 in that state．

Many students 9 while they are studying at universities．In this way they get into 10 working habits and live by their own hands．

As traditional Chinese art, paper cutting has a long history. The first and earliest paper cutting was found in China 1500 years ago. But this traditional art is disappearing now. 1 , Voyo Woo, a Chinese woman living in America, is trying to 2 this art back to life.

One Saturday in 2014, Ms. Woo held a paper cutting show at a shopping center near Washington. She had much fun 3 it and hoped more and more people would enjoy it.

Ms. Woo has been studying the art of paper cutting 4 she was a junior high school student in her hometown. She said all the students at school had to learn paper cutting. Because she had a 5 love for it, her teacher spent a lot more time teaching her after class. Later, she won the second prize in a national painting and art competition.

Ms. Woo went to America after she graduated from the university in 2008. Soon after that, she 6 an activity to promote (宣传) Chinese paper cutting. And then she was again invited to show the art in many other important 7 . “I love what I am doing and I will keep on doing it as much as possible. It is important to promote this art to Americans or 8 who is interested in it. Maybe it will make this art more popular.” Woo said.

From the 9 of paper cutting, people can know about Chinese cultural values, history and stories of people’s life. Ms. Woo uses the art as a tool to show Chinese culture 10 people who know little about it. Chinese art is not only for Chinese, but also all for people all over the world.